Improvement in gig-saddle trees



A. ORTMAYER. Gig-Saddle Tree.

No. 16 8,844, Patented Oct, 19-18-75 WITNESSES- v INVENTDR N. PEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

Um-ran S'ra'rns ANDREW ORTMAYEE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GIG-SADDLE TREES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,844, dated October 19, 1875 application filed August 12, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW ORTMAYER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Gig-Saddle Trees, of which improvements the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the said improvements, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof; and in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a gig-saddle tree embodying my in vention Fig. 2, a perspective of the lower side of the skirt, showing the manner of applying the terret-nuts; and Fig. 3, a perspective of the parts usually employed in connection with the tree.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

My object is to so improve the construction of gig-saddle trees as to render the saddles more simple, safe, and durable, and facilitate the operation of constructing them. I also aim to improve the means heretofore employed for connecting the backhand to the tree, to so apply the terret-nuts as to render them easily accessible, and to otherwise improve this part of the harness. For the purpose of accomplishing these objects my invention consists of a long flat fork, extending down to the position usually occupied by the backba-ndloops, and in so bending the ends of the fork as to form hooks thereon to receive the rings or squares to which the backbands are attached, and in retaining the rings or squares in place by means of wedges riveted to the tree, and terminating in the open part of the hooks thus formed. It also consists in arranging the skirts on the under side of the tree, and in making tongues in the former for the reception of the terret-nuts, which are attached thereto, all substantially as hereinafter described.

- In the drawing, Arepresents the gig-saddle tree. That part thereofwhich may be termed the fork A I make sufficiently long to extend to the backhand loops, and so shape it that it will approximate to that part of the back of the horse whereon it is intended to rest. I also deem it preferable to make this part in one piece. I turn the ends of this part up and over, as shown at a a, leaving the hooks thus formed sufliciently open to receive the rings or squares e e to which the backbauds B B are attached in the usual manner. C C are wedges arranged oer the tree and attached to the skirts D D, which are arranged below the tree. These wedges may consist either of leather or metal, and terminate at the lower ends in the open space between the tree and the books a a, as shown in Fig. l. E E are slots or holes in the tree. These openings are intended to receive the terret-bolts, and are surrounded by recesses 42 n to receive the terret-nuts. F is a tongue out in the skirts. A tongue, F, is arranged directly under each of the openings E E, and a terret-nut, G, is fastened by riveting or otherwise to each tongue, F, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be perceived from the foregoing description, and from reference to the drawing, that my tree is simple in its construction, and that thevarious partsformingthegig-saddlecan be easily attached to it; that there are no downwardlyprojecting parts on the under side of the tree; and that a heavy padding need not be attached to it. A light removable pad, capable of being easily removed for repairs or for the substitution ofa new one, is all that is necessary. Easy access may also be had to all the center or inside parts for repairs or other purposes. By making and arranging the hooks a a in the manner described the operative is enabled to make and finish the backbands before connecting them to the saddle. He can also finish, or nearly finish, the remaining parts of the saddle. This feature is important to harness-makers, for much of the manipulation of all the parts at the same time by the same workman may be avoided by means of my improvements. The gig-saddles may thus be made independently of the backstraps, and both parts may be made in any desirable numbers. But very little remains to be done in order to attach the back-straps. In order to attach them it is only necessary to lift the end of the wedge C so that the parts '0 0 may be arranged in the hooks up a. The part C should then be fastened in the manner described. It will also be perceived that the terret-nuts, if they become broken, may be readily removed Without injuring or ripping the surrounding parts. The terrets may also be easily removed, and new ones inserted, Without damage to the saddle. The tree, by

. having a long bearing on both sides, will rest easily on the animal, and to. a great extent prevent galling.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. A gig-saddle tree, having an elongated fork terminatingin the open hooks a a, in

combination with the parts 0 G, terminating in the open parts of the said hooks, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a gig-saddle, a tree, flat on its under side, and having recesses n n, in combination with the skirts D D, having tongues F F, which carry the nuts G G, as and. for the purpose specified.

- ANDREW ORTMAYEB. Witnesses:

F. A. HERRING, F. F. WARNER. 

